Censorship FTW! China bans Paris Hilton, minor Kardashians et al

It might be time to reconsider the evils of China's censorship regime, after the Middle Kingdom slapped a ban on reality TV shows featuring celebrities' children.

China's not super-keen on reality shows: this 2015 speech by official Tian Jin urges their producers to make people, not celebrities, the real heroes of such programs. It also calls for reality shows to demonstrate proper socialistic values, represent historical and cotemporary Chinese culture faithfully and avoid sexing things up and thereby straying from the truth.

State-owned outlet Xinhua now reports that the nation's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) has circulated an edict effectively banning reality shows featuring celebrities' kids from state-owned media.

Xinhua doesn't explain the ban and SAPPRFT appears not to have posted its ruling on its web site, but a read of the older speech hints at why: shows in which the rich and famous show off blinged-up kids are hardly likely to depict the values of socialism or put the proletariat front and centre.

Censorship? Perhaps. But bear in mind that a similar ban in the West would likely have meant any number of Kardashians, Hiltons, Osbornes and Cyruses would never have made it to air. ®